American voters over 64 years old say 44 - 41 percent that the U.S. was right to go to war
in Iraq, the lowest support of any age group in a Quinnipiac University poll released
today. Overall, American voters say 54 - 39 percent that the Iraq war was "the right
thing to do."

Seniors approve 49 - 42 percent of President George W. Bush, similar to a 49 - 44
percent approval among all voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University poll finds. The expanded survey of 1,865 voters allows for closer examination of
subgroups, including 384 voters over 64.

"Senior citizens, who fought in World War II and Korea, and sent their children to
Vietnam, are least hawkish on the war in Iraq," said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"But they fall in with other American voters in giving President Bush the edge over
Sen. Kerry, at least for this week. Is it the flattening of Kerry's primary election bounce
or the effect of Team Bush's assault on the Democrat? Whatever the cause, Kerry's
numbers slip."
The economy is the most important issue in deciding how they will vote for
President, say 33 percent of all voters, and 22 percent of seniors, followed by:

Terrorism - 16 percent, including 15 percent among seniors;

Iraq - 11 percent, with 11 percent of seniors;

Health care - 10 percent, with 7 percent of seniors;

Social Security - 8 percent, with 13 percent of seniors;

Medicare/prescription drugs - 8 percent, with 15 percent of seniors;

Taxes - 5 percent, with 2 percent of seniors;

Gay marriage - 4 percent, with 4 percent of seniors.

Looking at which candidate would do a better job on issues, voters say:

46 - 44 percent, including 43 - 39 percent among seniors, that Kerry would do a better
job on the economy;

American voters say 52 - 36 percent that Kerry will do a better job for senior
citizens, but seniors give this issue to Kerry by a smaller 45 - 40 percent margin.

Many voters, even seniors, know little about the recently enacted
Medicare/prescription drug bill, but all voters say 22 - 20 percent that it will be bad for
seniors, while 28 - 19 percent of seniors that it will be bad for them.

From March 16 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,865 registered voters
nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percent. The survey includes 384 voters
65 or older with a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and
nationwide as a public service ad for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as
President?

10. Thinking about the next presidential election, do you think George W. Bush
should keep Dick Cheney on the ticket as vice president or do you think Bush
should consider replacing Cheney with a different running mate?

19. Which one of the following issues is most important to you when you think about
your vote in the general election for president in November -- the economy, health
care, the situation in Iraq, terrorism, taxes, gay marriage, social security or
Medicare and prescription drugs?

29. Do you think the Medicare bill affecting prescription drugs for senior citizens
passed by Congress last year will be good for senior citizens or bad for senior
citizens, or haven't you heard enough about it?